Donald Axinn, an aviator, author, poet and philanthropist, and one of the founders of the Interfaith Nutrition Network (INN) was honored last Friday at a gala event that started on the Port Washington Town Dock.

A World War I fighter plane was at the end of the dock, which is close to the site of the first transatlantic commercial flight by Pan American that flew out over Manhasset Bay. Many of the dignitaries present took the opportunity to be photographed on and around the World War I plane as Antonio Ramos, of The Cradle of Aviation, complete in full World War I pilot dress, was on hand to honor Axinn.

Directly after the unusually windy event on the town dock all of those present were hosted by Angela Susan Anton, of Anton Community Newspapers at an absolutely delicious catered luncheon at Fish Kebab, on Main Street, Port Washington, courtesy of owner Ayhan Hassan.

Axinn, a resident of Sands Point and a pilot for almost 60 years has dedicated his life to the history of aviation. His book Spin, which has as its theme aviation intertwined with fighting racial inequality, has just been made into a movie and he chose to debut it in Port Washington at the Clearview Port Washington Theater on Main Street. It is also the directorial debut of Hollywood legend Robert Redford's son James and stars veteran actors Stanley Tucci and Ruben Blades along with Paula Garces and Dana Delaney.

The entire event was to kick-off Axinn's movie and to honor him for all he has done for Nassau County and the Town of North Hempstead Axinn played a huge part in the construction of The Cradle of Aviation Museum on Charles Lindbergh Blvd. in Garden City.

In introducing Axinn, North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman said he was proud to be part of honoring Donald Axinn because he has done so much to make the community a better place. Town Councilman Anthony D'Urso and Town Clerk Michelle Schimel then joined Kaiman to present a proclamation to Axinn. Nassau County Legislator Craig Johnson was also at the event

Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi also presented him with a proclamation stating that Nov. 5 was Don Axinn Day in Nassau County. He said, "Life is a wonderful gift and every so often you meet those who live life to the fullest and in doing so help make the world a better place. Donald and Joan Axinn are two of those people. They have done so much by founding INN and then they were instrumental in assembling the Cradle of Aviation Museum to outline and preserve aviation especially on Long Island."

Axinn was also lauded by Robert Hanson of the Long Island TV Foundation, who presented him with an award for being a tremendous force on Long Island for the independent film industry.

Nassau County Comptroller Howard Weitzman was also present to honor Axinn along with Chamber of Commerce members and president Warren Schein, the head of the Business Improvement District (BID) Roy Smitheimer and founder of the Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington, Myron Blumenfield.

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